Ltjbbicatina device



Dec. 29,1925- 1567,745

R. F. MAU

LUBRICA'I'ING DEVICE Filed Nov. 3, 1921 3 Sheets-Sheet l Eee. 29 1925- R. F. MAU

LUBRICATING DEVICE Filed Nov. z, 3 sheets-sneet 2 w A T Patente'd Dec. 29, 19125. 4

UNITED sTATEs FFECE.

BUI'DOLPI- F. MAU, OF CHICAGO, ILI NOIiVASSIGNOR T0 MAU IJIANUFACTURING COM- PANY, A COREORTION 015' ILLINOIS.

LUBRICA'I'ING- DEVICE.

Applcationifiled. November 3, 1921. lSerial No. 512,506.

`motor Vehicles, and among the objects of 'my invention areto provide a new and improved lubricatingi` system fi'or the movable joints of a vehicle, such as the steering knuckles, the hubs, the spring joints, etc., of an automobile; to provide improved means for connecting the parts of such a lubricat-` ing system;` to provide a yieldable eonnecl tion adapted to carry the lubi'icatmg medium iii such a systein and to permit the v-various relative movements of the "parts without straining thereof; and such further objects, advantagesA an'd capabiiitiesas W11' later more fully appear;

` My` invention 'further resides'in the 'con'ii' bination, construction and' ai'rangeme'nt of parts illustrated inthe' acconipanyin'g draw'F1 ings, and while I have shown'thei'ein a pi'eferred embodiinent l 'l desire the ;same to .be T

iinderstood as ilhistrative .only and not as limiting niy iii venti on.v

in the aeeoinaan inff drawiiifzs:

i 1 is a diagramniatic.plan oftlie run;` ning gear of a motor vehicle with niy lubricating system appliedthei'eto, the v 1|]-` being supei'posed aboye the fraijiieand run-f ning` gear fortlie sake of clearncss ofiillus-l ti'ation.

Fig. 3 is abrolcen sectional elevation substantially' along the plane'ndicated by `the line 3:43, Fig. 2.

Fig'. 4 is a broken sectionfithi'ough the i `forward axle ,and spring. u

another form of connection means used in tliis system.` 1

. ture of this inventioii resides in the fact th" t tively by the numerals 18, lFig.` 2 alsbrokeng sectional 1elevatfionfofif.`V the forward end of the running gear online i Fig. that shown iii Fig. 8 except that there is Fig. 7 is a transverse section substantially along the plane indicated by the line 7-3? Fig. G.

Fig. 8 is a long'itudinal section of another form of connector used in'this systeizi.

Fig. 9 is a partial seetional elevation substantially along the plane .indicated by the line 9-9 Fig. 8, designed to show the at tachment of the lubricating systein to the frame of the machine.

Referri-ng more in detail to the annexed drawings numerals 1, 2, 3, 4, designate the various bearings or joints at the ends of the Springs whilenumerals 5, G, 7, 8, and. 10 designate various other joiiits which are tobe supplied with a lubi'icating.iiiediuiir My new lubricating; system coinpi'ises a tank 11 adapted to contain the lubricating fluid and a piping system 12 coiinecting this tank with the various inovable joints of the ma chine. `Within .the piping 12 is a pu'np` liz.

having a handle 14 by means of wliichthe pump piston may be actuated to force the lubricant 'throughout thefpiping system to the joints. It is believed that the method of lubi'ication' will be clear from the drawings without 'afdetailed description thereof, it being obviousthat when the pump isioperated'the' oil will pass 'outwardly therefrom, forwardly, rearwardly, and transversely of the macliinevto the various joints as indicated. However, ani important fea' a' single pipe 15 leads from the tani- 'il to 'the pump 18 and a single pipe 10 leads from the pump to the distributing pipes li.

'l/Vithin the piping 'system there are sevei'al kinds of connections designated respec- 19, 20, 21, 2.2 and 23. Of these, numerals 18 and 20 designate simple L and T connectors, while the connector designated 15) is shown in detail in Fig.`8, that designated 21 is shown in Fig. 6 and that designated 22 is shown iii The connector designated is like not provided a spring talreup means as here shown. The connectors shown in Figs.

i and 6 are essentially the same except that .i g the form'er is a three way connector and Fig. 6 isa longitudinal section through' the'latter a two way connector, but these difierences Willbe discussed iii detali hereinafter.

Attention is called to the fact that a spring` check-valve associated with each terminal connector permits the lubricant to pass through when sulficient pressure is applied thereto but prevents its return upon removal of the pressure caused by the pump 13. This also prevents dirt from working back through the piping system into the pump and oil tank. Accordingly all connectors numbered 18 and 21 in Fig. 1 are provided with check-Valves, while connectors 22 have normally one exit Controlled by a check-valve.

Reference w-ill now be had more particu larly to the structure shown in Figi; 5, in which numeral 25 designates the body portion of the connector which is provided with a substantially axially located projection or spindle 26 which has a transrerse aperture 27 extending` therethrough. An aperture 28 cxtends from aperture 2"? longitudinally of the spindle and body member 25 and opens through a threaded connection 29. within which is located a check-valve 30, com prising a ball,' a spring, and means for holding these within ,an enlargement of the channel 28. In this instance it is shown as an externally screw-tln'eaded fiat ring` whose threads co-operate with threads cut in the extension 29 of body member 25. It is o1 vious that this check valve 80 will prevent any lubricant from tlowing through the connector unless sufficient pressure is exerted to overcome the spring tension of this check Valve. Since all the check Valyes are accurately set to open at the same pressure, preferably about three pounds, there will be no flow of oil unless the pump 18 is actuated. Extending from aperture 28 laterally through the body member 25 is an aperture 31, to which is connected a pipe line 82 to carry lubricant to another joint or joints, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. Rotatably journalled on the spindle 2G is a member 33 having' its interior hollowed out as at 34 to form a small receptacle for lubricating material so that the same may reach transyerf aperture 27 in whateyer position of adjustment members 25 and 32% may be. Loading,` .laterally through the wall of member 33 is an aperture, in communication with which is a pipe line 35 by means of which lubricant is sent to the connector. lt will. b seen from the y rious figures that there is a packing1 material 3G between the body member and the pivoted member 3? to produce a ti g'ht joint and reduce frietion at this point. Also that these parts are held. tig'htly assembled means of a spring and nut mounted on the end of spindle 26. Between this spring and .member and surrounding;` the spindle a washer and packing' material may be placed to prevent escape of oil and reduce friction as stated above.

rioes the connector when the same is used both as a terminal and as a lead to supply lubricant to some other joints. The construction shown in Figi: 6 is similar to that of Fig. 5 except that this is a terminal and does not have connection for feeding lubricant to another joint. In this case the check Valve is inserted at the end of the pipe leading to the connector rather than at the extremity thereof, but may equally as Well be inserted in the same location as that in Fig. 5. However, the two check Valves operate in the same manner.

The construction shown in Fig. 8, unlike that shown in lfig. is not provided with any check valve 30, but the body member 25a is apertured longitudinally as in the preceding` example and the. spindle 26 has the longitudinal aperture 28" e\tendin;;` entirely therethrough and connnunicatinu with an aperture ;'37 c.\;tendin;y lone'itudinally through member 38 which has formcd upon. one side thereof a bracket 35), by means of which this member is secured to an axlc 40, whether this be an I-beam as shown in Fig. 2 or T shape as shown in Fin: i). Leading from opposite ends of this comwct'or are pipes 41 and 42 which conrey the lubricant to other joints, as describcd above, in order to lubricate the same. It will. be Iscen from the foregoing` that, since members 2.3 and 38 are both provided with brackets 35) by means of which they are rigidly secured to an axle or frame member, there will be no relative rotation between these members. but member 33, as in the preccding' cases, is rotatably mounted on the spin-;lle 26. ln this instance member 38 co-operatcs with the spring` surrounding the spindle 2G to hold member tightly seated against the gasket 36. Yieldingly connecting the feed pipe 43 with piyoted member 83 is a spring takeup mechanism 44 which permits lonfritudinal contraction and expansion of the pipe line, caused by forward and backward movement of the axlo to which connector 1*.) is secured. lt should perhaps bo noed in this connection that one of the U-bolts lo. which holds the spring` i(` to the :ixle 'IH has its ends exttmding` through the brarkcl- 39 in order to secure the same in place.

It is of course understood that Fig'. 1 is quite diagrammatic and that the various feed pipes will, whonever possible, 'be placed inside of or beneath the side members of the frame or against other running gear parts as, for example, against the rear face of the front axle. Thus it will be seen that pipe 41 passes along` the axle beneath the spring' 47 at the left side of the machine. Here it is provided with a connector 20, having` brackets 39 so that it may be held in place by the U-bolt as heretofore described. The pipe 49 leads from this pipe 41 (see Figs. 2 and to the bolt 50 which is normally passed through the spring llO leaves to hold them together. This bolt vis bored longitudinally and provided with a plurality of laterally directed vents arranged. in staggered relation to lead the lubricant out between the leaves of the sprino". This being a terminal connector, a check valve is provided in order to prevent the lubricant from being fed to the spring until a sufficient pressure has been developed to force the check valve open. However, in this instance the check valve is preferably placed at the unction of the connector or cap nut and the pipe leading` to the bolt. It will be obvious that a similar arrangement-is provided for each of the other springs so that they may all be lubricated.

Among the numerous advantages of the present invention are the following: The single feed line from the tank through the pump to the distributing pipes results in a uniform pressure throiwhout the system, causing` all bearings to be fed with lubricant under the same pressure and assuringI lubrication of every movable joint, not allowing any one of these to go without oil while the others are properly lubricated. There is a further advantage that, with a lubricating system of this type, provided with my new connectors, the parts of the vehicle may function normally without any danger of bending or straining the feed lines, as has resulted from some prior attempts to lubricate the movable joints of a vehicle, mechanically. The present lubricating` system is so constructed and applied that there is no bending or tensile strain placed upon the parts thereof other than what may be accommodated by rotary members 33 and spring takeup 44:.

It is of course understood that the specific description of structure set forth above may be departed from without departing from the spirit of my invention as set forth in this specification and the appended claims.

lLlavingl now describeifl my invention, I cl ai m 1. In a lubricating` system, a connection comprising a body member having securing means at one end thereof and provided with a longitudnally extending aperture, a longitudinally extending stem projecting` from the opposite end thereof and provided with a transverse aperture connected with the said longitudinal aperture, and a hollow member pivoted on said stem and provided with means for connecting` thereto a pipe for the flow of lubricant. i

2. In a lubricating system, a connection comprising` a body member proviiiled with a longitudinally extendin` apcrture, a longitudinally extending1 stem provided with a transverse aperture connected with the said longitudinal aperture, and a hollow member pivoted on said stem and having` an aperture extending oiitwardly from the hollow interior of said hollow member to afford a means for the flow of lubricant, and resilient means connected with said stem to hold. the said hollow member tightly against the body member. I

3. In a connector, a body member and a stem member, said stem member having a transverse aperture and a longitudinal aperture extendmg from said transverse aperture down through said stem and body member, a member pivotally mounted on said stem and having a hollow interior in registry with the said transverse aperture, said pivoted member being,` provided on one face With means whereby it may be connected to a pipe and having an aperture eX- tending from its interior through said last named stem.

4. In a device of the class described a lubricant reservoir, a system of lubricant carrying pipes, a series of joints to be lubricated adapted to relieve strain on said pipes, a connection on said pipes having a body member and a stem member, transverse and longitudinal apertures in said body and stem members and a hollow member pivoted to said stem member containing` a transverse aperture to hold a lubricant carrying pipe.

5. In a device of the class described a lubricant reservoir, a system of lubricant rying pipes, a connection between said reservoir and said pipes, a series of joints to be luln'icated, means to allow movement of said joints to prevent strain on said pipes, a connection on said pipes havim;` a body member and a stem member, transversc and longitudinal aperturesl in said body and stem members and a hollow member pivoted to said stem. member containing a transverse aperture to hold a lubricant carrying pipe. i

In witness whereof, I hereunto Subscribe my name to this specification.

RUDOLPH F. MA'U.

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